Tetrapanax papyrifer

Read about Tetrapanax papyrifer in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Tetrapanax (four and panax, referring to the four-merous flower structure). Araliaceae. By Bentham & Hooker (Genera Plantarum) this genus is included in Fatsia, and is so treated in Vol. III, page 1204. By others, however, it is kept distinct, and the plant known as Fatsia papyrifera then becomes T. papyriferum, Koch, the only species. The reader may take his choice whether to name the plant in one genus or the other; the preference probably lies with placing it in Tetrapanax. This genus, if accepted, differs from Fatsia in its four-merous rather than mostly five-merous flowers, with two-merous ovary, the tomentose-lanate character, and other features. T. papyriferum is an excellent subtropical subject. Fatsia japonica, Decne. & Planch., remains in that genus, as treated on page 1204. The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

? Tetrapanax papyrifer
Plant Info
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Apiales Family: Araliaceae Subfamily: Aralioideae Genus: Tetrapanax (K.Koch) K.Koch Species: T. papyrifer
Binomial name
Tetrapanax papyrifer (Hook.) K.Koch

Tetrapanax papyrifer (Tung-tsau or Rice-paper Plant) is an evergreen shrub in the family Araliaceae, the sole species in the genus Tetrapanax. It is endemic to Taiwan, but also widely cultivated elsewhere in eastern Asia. It grows to 3-7 m tall, with usually unbranched stems 2 cm diameter bearing a rosette of large leaves at the top (superficially similar to a palm crown). The leaves are carried on 40-60 cm petioles, the leaf blade orbicular, 30-50 cm across, deeply palmately lobed with 5-11 primary lobes, each lobe usually secondarily lobulate. It spreads extensively by sprouts from the root system underground.

The flowers are produced in a large umbel at the apex of the stem, each flower with 4-5 small white petals. The fruit is a small drupe.

The pith from the stem is used to make a substance commonly known as rice paper, but more properly termed pith paper.

The species was once included in the genus Fatsia as Fatsia papyrifera.

External links

• Chinese Botanical Paintings, Tetrapanax papyriferum (Hook.) Koch